New to smoking meat in Ohio

Hi. My name is Phil and I am planning on building an electric smoker. I currently have a Brinkmann charcoal grill (don't even talk to me about grilling with gas). I just finished building a water-powered sausage stuffer and would like to start making some smoked sausages.
I live in north central Ohio, in Lorain. I am a chemist for the city, but that just pays the bills.

My motto is "Beef...it's what's for dinner...breakfast and lunch too."